25 files changed, 134 insertions, 121 deletions
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1f85dd3a99..4cfd5c9274 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -906,6 +906,22 @@ if test "x$use_thread_local" = xyes || { test "x$use_thread_local" = xauto && te
   LDFLAGS="$TEMP_LDFLAGS"
 fi
 
+dnl check for gmtime_r(), fallback to gmtime_s() if that is unavailable
+dnl fail if neither are available.
+AC_MSG_CHECKING(for gmtime_r)
+AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[#include <ctime>]],
+  [[ gmtime_r((const time_t *) nullptr, (struct tm *) nullptr); ]])],
+  [ AC_MSG_RESULT(yes); AC_DEFINE(HAVE_GMTIME_R, 1, [Define this symbol if gmtime_r is available]) ],
+  [ AC_MSG_RESULT(no);
+    AC_MSG_CHECKING(for gmtime_s);
+    AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[#include <ctime>]],
+       [[ gmtime_s((struct tm *) nullptr, (const time_t *) nullptr); ]])],
+       [ AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)],
+       [ AC_MSG_RESULT(no); AC_MSG_ERROR(Both gmtime_r and gmtime_s are unavailable) ]
+    )
+  ]
+)
+
 dnl Check for different ways of gathering OS randomness
 AC_MSG_CHECKING(for Linux getrandom syscall)
 AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[#include <unistd.h>
@@ -1596,6 +1612,7 @@ AC_SUBST(EVENT_LIBS)
 AC_SUBST(EVENT_PTHREADS_LIBS)
 AC_SUBST(ZMQ_LIBS)
 AC_SUBST(QR_LIBS)
+AC_SUBST(HAVE_GMTIME_R)
 AC_SUBST(HAVE_FDATASYNC)
 AC_SUBST(HAVE_FULLFSYNC)
 AC_SUBST(HAVE_O_CLOEXEC)
diff --git a/contrib/devtools/previous_release.sh b/contrib/devtools/previous_release.sh
index efd035f778..5ddfdb4e73 100755
--- a/contrib/devtools/previous_release.sh
+++ b/contrib/devtools/previous_release.sh
@@ -139,7 +139,10 @@ pushd "$TARGET" || exit 1
         fi
         URL="https://bitcoin.org/$BIN_PATH/bitcoin-${tag:1}-$PLATFORM.tar.gz"
         echo "Fetching: $URL"
-        curl -O $URL
+        if ! curl -O -f $URL; then
+            echo "Download failed."
+            exit 1
+        fi
         tar -zxf "bitcoin-${tag:1}-$PLATFORM.tar.gz" -C "$tag" --strip-components=1 "bitcoin-${tag:1}"
         rm "bitcoin-${tag:1}-$PLATFORM.tar.gz"
       fi
diff --git a/doc/README.md b/doc/README.md
index 4dd21c4620..19d8204d83 100644
--- a/doc/README.md
+++ b/doc/README.md
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Drag Bitcoin Core to your applications folder, and then run Bitcoin Core.
 
 * See the documentation at the [Bitcoin Wiki](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Main_Page)
 for help and more information.
-* Ask for help on [#bitcoin](http://webchat.freenode.net?channels=bitcoin) on Freenode. If you don't have an IRC client, use [webchat here](http://webchat.freenode.net?channels=bitcoin).
+* Ask for help on [#bitcoin](https://webchat.freenode.net/#bitcoin) on Freenode. If you don't have an IRC client, use [webchat here](https://webchat.freenode.net/#bitcoin).
 * Ask for help on the [BitcoinTalk](https://bitcointalk.org/) forums, in the [Technical Support board](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=4.0).
 
 Building
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ The Bitcoin repo's [root README](/README.md) contains relevant information on th
 
 ### Resources
 * Discuss on the [BitcoinTalk](https://bitcointalk.org/) forums, in the [Development & Technical Discussion board](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=6.0).
-* Discuss project-specific development on #bitcoin-core-dev on Freenode. If you don't have an IRC client, use [webchat here](http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=bitcoin-core-dev).
-* Discuss general Bitcoin development on #bitcoin-dev on Freenode. If you don't have an IRC client, use [webchat here](http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=bitcoin-dev).
+* Discuss project-specific development on #bitcoin-core-dev on Freenode. If you don't have an IRC client, use [webchat here](https://webchat.freenode.net/#bitcoin-core-dev).
+* Discuss general Bitcoin development on #bitcoin-dev on Freenode. If you don't have an IRC client, use [webchat here](https://webchat.freenode.net/#bitcoin-dev).
 
 ### Miscellaneous
 - [Assets Attribution](assets-attribution.md)
diff --git a/doc/productivity.md b/doc/productivity.md
index b25ddc94e5..1bf3d9afb5 100644
--- a/doc/productivity.md
+++ b/doc/productivity.md
@@ -172,11 +172,11 @@ When looking at other's pull requests, it may make sense to add the following se
 
 ```
 [remote "upstream-pull"]
-        fetch = +refs/pull/*:refs/remotes/upstream-pull/*
+        fetch = +refs/pull/*/head:refs/remotes/upstream-pull/*
         url = git@github.com:bitcoin/bitcoin.git
 ```
 
-This will add an `upstream-pull` remote to your git repository, which can be fetched using `git fetch --all` or `git fetch upstream-pull`. Afterwards, you can use `upstream-pull/NUMBER/head` in arguments to `git show`, `git checkout` and anywhere a commit id would be acceptable to see the changes from pull request NUMBER.
+This will add an `upstream-pull` remote to your git repository, which can be fetched using `git fetch --all` or `git fetch upstream-pull`. It will download and store on disk quite a lot of data (all PRs, including merged and closed ones). Afterwards, you can use `upstream-pull/NUMBER/head` in arguments to `git show`, `git checkout` and anywhere a commit id would be acceptable to see the changes from pull request NUMBER.
 
 ### Diff the diffs with `git range-diff`
 
diff --git a/doc/reduce-memory.md b/doc/reduce-memory.md
index 34a5b19b12..6e7a578ecc 100644
--- a/doc/reduce-memory.md
+++ b/doc/reduce-memory.md
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ The size of some in-memory caches can be reduced. As caches trade off memory usa
 
 ## Number of peers
 
-- `-maxconnections=<n>` - the maximum number of connections, this defaults to `125`. Each active connection takes up some memory. Only significant if incoming connections are enabled, otherwise the number of connections will never be more than `10`. Of the 10 outbound peers, there can be 8 full outgoing connections and 2 -blocksonly peers, in which case they are block/addr peers, but not tx peers.
+- `-maxconnections=<n>` - the maximum number of connections, this defaults to 125. Each active connection takes up some
+  memory. This option applies only if incoming connections are enabled, otherwise the number of connections will never
+  be more than 10. Of the 10 outbound peers, there can be 8 full-relay connections and 2 block-relay-only ones.
 
 ## Thread configuration
 
diff --git a/doc/reduce-traffic.md b/doc/reduce-traffic.md
index 7debb0a16e..e39e43df7a 100644
--- a/doc/reduce-traffic.md
+++ b/doc/reduce-traffic.md
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ Some node operators need to deal with bandwidth caps imposed by their ISPs.
 
 By default, Bitcoin Core allows up to 125 connections to different peers, 10 of
 which are outbound. You can therefore, have at most 115 inbound connections.
-Of the 10 outbound peers, there can be 8 full outgoing connections and 2 with
-the -blocksonly mode turned on. You can therefore, have at most 115 inbound connections.
+Of the 10 outbound peers, there can be 8 full-relay connections and 2
+block-relay-only ones.
 
 The default settings can result in relatively significant traffic consumption.
 
diff --git a/doc/release-process.md b/doc/release-process.md
index e0f29f6ad7..a61b67c35f 100644
--- a/doc/release-process.md
+++ b/doc/release-process.md
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ Codesigner only: Commit the detached codesign payloads:
     rm -rf *
     tar xf signature-osx.tar.gz
     tar xf signature-win.tar.gz
-    git add -a
+    git add -A
     git commit -m "point to ${VERSION}"
     git tag -s v${VERSION} HEAD
     git push the current branch and new tag
diff --git a/src/chainparams.cpp b/src/chainparams.cpp
index a9183ac970..f8f2d41138 100644
--- a/src/chainparams.cpp
+++ b/src/chainparams.cpp
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ public:
         consensus.vDeployments[Consensus::DEPLOYMENT_TESTDUMMY].nTimeout = 1230767999; // December 31, 2008
 
         // The best chain should have at least this much work.
-        consensus.nMinimumChainWork = uint256S("0x000000000000000000000000000000000000000008ea3cf107ae0dec57f03fe8");
+        consensus.nMinimumChainWork = uint256S("0x00000000000000000000000000000000000000000e1ab5ec9348e9f4b8eb8154");
 
         // By default assume that the signatures in ancestors of this block are valid.
-        consensus.defaultAssumeValid = uint256S("0x00000000000000000005f8920febd3925f8272a6a71237563d78c2edfdd09ddf"); // 597379
+        consensus.defaultAssumeValid = uint256S("0x0000000000000000000f2adce67e49b0b6bdeb9de8b7c3d7e93b21e7fc1e819d"); // 623950
 
         /**
          * The message start string is designed to be unlikely to occur in normal data.
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public:
         pchMessageStart[3] = 0xd9;
         nDefaultPort = 8333;
         nPruneAfterHeight = 100000;
-        m_assumed_blockchain_size = 280;
+        m_assumed_blockchain_size = 320;
         m_assumed_chain_state_size = 4;
 
         genesis = CreateGenesisBlock(1231006505, 2083236893, 0x1d00ffff, 1, 50 * COIN);
@@ -156,10 +156,10 @@ public:
         };
 
         chainTxData = ChainTxData{
-            // Data from RPC: getchaintxstats 4096 00000000000000000005f8920febd3925f8272a6a71237563d78c2edfdd09ddf
-            /* nTime    */ 1569926786,
-            /* nTxCount */ 460596047,
-            /* dTxRate  */ 3.77848885073875,
+            // Data from RPC: getchaintxstats 4096 0000000000000000000f2adce67e49b0b6bdeb9de8b7c3d7e93b21e7fc1e819d
+            /* nTime    */ 1585764811,
+            /* nTxCount */ 517186863,
+            /* dTxRate  */ 3.305709665792344,
         };
     }
 };
@@ -192,10 +192,10 @@ public:
         consensus.vDeployments[Consensus::DEPLOYMENT_TESTDUMMY].nTimeout = 1230767999; // December 31, 2008
 
         // The best chain should have at least this much work.
-        consensus.nMinimumChainWork = uint256S("0x00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000012b2a3a62424f21c918");
+        consensus.nMinimumChainWork = uint256S("0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001495c1d5a01e2af8a23");
 
         // By default assume that the signatures in ancestors of this block are valid.
-        consensus.defaultAssumeValid = uint256S("0x00000000000000b7ab6ce61eb6d571003fbe5fe892da4c9b740c49a07542462d"); // 1580000
+        consensus.defaultAssumeValid = uint256S("0x000000000000056c49030c174179b52a928c870e6e8a822c75973b7970cfbd01"); // 1692000
 
         pchMessageStart[0] = 0x0b;
         pchMessageStart[1] = 0x11;
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ public:
         pchMessageStart[3] = 0x07;
         nDefaultPort = 18333;
         nPruneAfterHeight = 1000;
-        m_assumed_blockchain_size = 30;
+        m_assumed_blockchain_size = 40;
         m_assumed_chain_state_size = 2;
 
         genesis = CreateGenesisBlock(1296688602, 414098458, 0x1d00ffff, 1, 50 * COIN);
@@ -241,10 +241,10 @@ public:
         };
 
         chainTxData = ChainTxData{
-            // Data from RPC: getchaintxstats 4096 00000000000000b7ab6ce61eb6d571003fbe5fe892da4c9b740c49a07542462d
-            /* nTime    */ 1569741320,
-            /* nTxCount */ 52318009,
-            /* dTxRate  */ 0.1517002392872353,
+            // Data from RPC: getchaintxstats 4096 000000000000056c49030c174179b52a928c870e6e8a822c75973b7970cfbd01
+            /* nTime    */ 1585561140,
+            /* nTxCount */ 13483,
+            /* dTxRate  */ 0.08523187013249722,
         };
     }
 };
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index e08ab5be7e..88caed9ded 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -561,13 +561,12 @@ void SetupServerArgs()
 std::string LicenseInfo()
 {
     const std::string URL_SOURCE_CODE = "<https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin>";
-    const std::string URL_WEBSITE = "<https://bitcoincore.org>";
 
     return CopyrightHolders(strprintf(_("Copyright (C) %i-%i").translated, 2009, COPYRIGHT_YEAR) + " ") + "\n" +
            "\n" +
            strprintf(_("Please contribute if you find %s useful. "
                        "Visit %s for further information about the software.").translated,
-               PACKAGE_NAME, URL_WEBSITE) +
+               PACKAGE_NAME, "<" PACKAGE_URL ">") +
            "\n" +
            strprintf(_("The source code is available from %s.").translated,
                URL_SOURCE_CODE) +
diff --git a/src/primitives/transaction.cpp b/src/primitives/transaction.cpp
index 28c145f71d..6e72c1f15c 100644
--- a/src/primitives/transaction.cpp
+++ b/src/primitives/transaction.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 #include <tinyformat.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 
+#include <assert.h>
+
 std::string COutPoint::ToString() const
 {
     return strprintf("COutPoint(%s, %u)", hash.ToString().substr(0,10), n);
@@ -84,10 +86,11 @@ CAmount CTransaction::GetValueOut() const
 {
     CAmount nValueOut = 0;
     for (const auto& tx_out : vout) {
-        nValueOut += tx_out.nValue;
-        if (!MoneyRange(tx_out.nValue) || !MoneyRange(nValueOut))
+        if (!MoneyRange(tx_out.nValue) || !MoneyRange(nValueOut + tx_out.nValue))
             throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__func__) + ": value out of range");
+        nValueOut += tx_out.nValue;
     }
+    assert(MoneyRange(nValueOut));
     return nValueOut;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp b/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp
index 88c694567e..f076b5ba61 100644
--- a/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ WalletControllerActivity::~WalletControllerActivity()
 
 void WalletControllerActivity::showProgressDialog(const QString& label_text)
 {
+    assert(!m_progress_dialog);
     m_progress_dialog = new QProgressDialog(m_parent_widget);
 
     m_progress_dialog->setLabelText(label_text);
@@ -175,6 +176,13 @@ void WalletControllerActivity::showProgressDialog(const QString& label_text)
     GUIUtil::PolishProgressDialog(m_progress_dialog);
 }
 
+void WalletControllerActivity::destroyProgressDialog()
+{
+    assert(m_progress_dialog);
+    delete m_progress_dialog;
+    m_progress_dialog = nullptr;
+}
+
 CreateWalletActivity::CreateWalletActivity(WalletController* wallet_controller, QWidget* parent_widget)
     : WalletControllerActivity(wallet_controller, parent_widget)
 {
@@ -229,7 +237,7 @@ void CreateWalletActivity::createWallet()
 
 void CreateWalletActivity::finish()
 {
-    m_progress_dialog->hide();
+    destroyProgressDialog();
 
     if (!m_error_message.empty()) {
         QMessageBox::critical(m_parent_widget, tr("Create wallet failed"), QString::fromStdString(m_error_message));
@@ -270,7 +278,7 @@ OpenWalletActivity::OpenWalletActivity(WalletController* wallet_controller, QWid
 
 void OpenWalletActivity::finish()
 {
-    m_progress_dialog->hide();
+    destroyProgressDialog();
 
     if (!m_error_message.empty()) {
         QMessageBox::critical(m_parent_widget, tr("Open wallet failed"), QString::fromStdString(m_error_message));
diff --git a/src/qt/walletcontroller.h b/src/qt/walletcontroller.h
index 956245775e..f30eb25308 100644
--- a/src/qt/walletcontroller.h
+++ b/src/qt/walletcontroller.h
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ protected:
     QObject* worker() const { return m_wallet_controller->m_activity_worker; }
 
     void showProgressDialog(const QString& label_text);
+    void destroyProgressDialog();
 
     WalletController* const m_wallet_controller;
     QWidget* const m_parent_widget;
diff --git a/src/rpc/util.cpp b/src/rpc/util.cpp
index 32e0e1ec27..7e1fb7a59d 100644
--- a/src/rpc/util.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/util.cpp
@@ -606,11 +606,11 @@ void RPCResult::ToSections(Sections& sections, const OuterType outer_type, const
     switch (m_type) {
     case Type::ELISION: {
         // If the inner result is empty, use three dots for elision
-        sections.PushSection({indent_next + "...", m_description});
+        sections.PushSection({indent + "..." + maybe_separator, m_description});
         return;
     }
     case Type::NONE: {
-        sections.PushSection({indent + "None", Description("json null")});
+        sections.PushSection({indent + "null" + maybe_separator, Description("json null")});
         return;
     }
     case Type::STR: {
@@ -643,10 +643,10 @@ void RPCResult::ToSections(Sections& sections, const OuterType outer_type, const
         for (const auto& i : m_inner) {
             i.ToSections(sections, OuterType::ARR, current_indent + 2);
         }
-        if (m_type == Type::ARR) {
+        CHECK_NONFATAL(!m_inner.empty());
+        if (m_type == Type::ARR && m_inner.back().m_type != Type::ELISION) {
             sections.PushSection({indent_next + "...", ""});
         } else {
-            CHECK_NONFATAL(!m_inner.empty());
             // Remove final comma, which would be invalid JSON
             sections.m_sections.back().m_left.pop_back();
         }
@@ -659,11 +659,11 @@ void RPCResult::ToSections(Sections& sections, const OuterType outer_type, const
         for (const auto& i : m_inner) {
             i.ToSections(sections, OuterType::OBJ, current_indent + 2);
         }
-        if (m_type == Type::OBJ_DYN) {
+        CHECK_NONFATAL(!m_inner.empty());
+        if (m_type == Type::OBJ_DYN && m_inner.back().m_type != Type::ELISION) {
             // If the dictionary keys are dynamic, use three dots for continuation
             sections.PushSection({indent_next + "...", ""});
         } else {
-            CHECK_NONFATAL(!m_inner.empty());
             // Remove final comma, which would be invalid JSON
             sections.m_sections.back().m_left.pop_back();
         }
diff --git a/src/util/time.cpp b/src/util/time.cpp
index 14937b985e..0938ff36a6 100644
--- a/src/util/time.cpp
+++ b/src/util/time.cpp
@@ -78,10 +78,10 @@ int64_t GetSystemTimeInSeconds()
 std::string FormatISO8601DateTime(int64_t nTime) {
     struct tm ts;
     time_t time_val = nTime;
-#ifdef _MSC_VER
-    if (gmtime_s(&ts, &time_val) != 0) {
-#else
+#ifdef HAVE_GMTIME_R
     if (gmtime_r(&time_val, &ts) == nullptr) {
+#else
+    if (gmtime_s(&ts, &time_val) != 0) {
 #endif
         return {};
     }
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ std::string FormatISO8601DateTime(int64_t nTime) {
 std::string FormatISO8601Date(int64_t nTime) {
     struct tm ts;
     time_t time_val = nTime;
-#ifdef _MSC_VER
-    if (gmtime_s(&ts, &time_val) != 0) {
-#else
+#ifdef HAVE_GMTIME_R
     if (gmtime_r(&time_val, &ts) == nullptr) {
+#else
+    if (gmtime_s(&ts, &time_val) != 0) {
 #endif
         return {};
     }
diff --git a/src/wallet/load.cpp b/src/wallet/load.cpp
index 3e92c07d64..d6e44c7be5 100644
--- a/src/wallet/load.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/load.cpp
@@ -66,19 +66,23 @@ bool VerifyWallets(interfaces::Chain& chain, const std::vector<std::string>& wal
 
 bool LoadWallets(interfaces::Chain& chain, const std::vector<std::string>& wallet_files)
 {
-    for (const std::string& walletFile : wallet_files) {
-        std::string error;
-        std::vector<std::string> warnings;
-        std::shared_ptr<CWallet> pwallet = CWallet::CreateWalletFromFile(chain, WalletLocation(walletFile), error, warnings);
-        if (!warnings.empty()) chain.initWarning(Join(warnings, "\n"));
-        if (!pwallet) {
-            chain.initError(error);
-            return false;
+    try {
+        for (const std::string& walletFile : wallet_files) {
+            std::string error;
+            std::vector<std::string> warnings;
+            std::shared_ptr<CWallet> pwallet = CWallet::CreateWalletFromFile(chain, WalletLocation(walletFile), error, warnings);
+            if (!warnings.empty()) chain.initWarning(Join(warnings, "\n"));
+            if (!pwallet) {
+                chain.initError(error);
+                return false;
+            }
+            AddWallet(pwallet);
         }
-        AddWallet(pwallet);
+        return true;
+    } catch (const std::runtime_error& e) {
+        chain.initError(e.what());
+        return false;
     }
-
-    return true;
 }
 
 void StartWallets(CScheduler& scheduler)
diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
index 98f308f927..bc9f84a11d 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
@@ -148,19 +148,24 @@ void UnloadWallet(std::shared_ptr<CWallet>&& wallet)
 
 std::shared_ptr<CWallet> LoadWallet(interfaces::Chain& chain, const WalletLocation& location, std::string& error, std::vector<std::string>& warnings)
 {
-    if (!CWallet::Verify(chain, location, false, error, warnings)) {
-        error = "Wallet file verification failed: " + error;
-        return nullptr;
-    }
+    try {
+        if (!CWallet::Verify(chain, location, false, error, warnings)) {
+            error = "Wallet file verification failed: " + error;
+            return nullptr;
+        }
 
-    std::shared_ptr<CWallet> wallet = CWallet::CreateWalletFromFile(chain, location, error, warnings);
-    if (!wallet) {
-        error = "Wallet loading failed: " + error;
+        std::shared_ptr<CWallet> wallet = CWallet::CreateWalletFromFile(chain, location, error, warnings);
+        if (!wallet) {
+            error = "Wallet loading failed: " + error;
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+        AddWallet(wallet);
+        wallet->postInitProcess();
+        return wallet;
+    } catch (const std::runtime_error& e) {
+        error = e.what();
         return nullptr;
     }
-    AddWallet(wallet);
-    wallet->postInitProcess();
-    return wallet;
 }
 
 std::shared_ptr<CWallet> LoadWallet(interfaces::Chain& chain, const std::string& name, std::string& error, std::vector<std::string>& warnings)
diff --git a/test/functional/feature_maxuploadtarget.py b/test/functional/feature_maxuploadtarget.py
index 974388d798..dc00e03fe7 100755
--- a/test/functional/feature_maxuploadtarget.py
+++ b/test/functional/feature_maxuploadtarget.py
@@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ class MaxUploadTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         # 576MB will be reserved for relaying new blocks, so expect this to
         # succeed for ~235 tries.
         for i in range(success_count):
-            p2p_conns[0].send_message(getdata_request)
-            p2p_conns[0].sync_with_ping()
+            p2p_conns[0].send_and_ping(getdata_request)
             assert_equal(p2p_conns[0].block_receive_map[big_old_block], i+1)
 
         assert_equal(len(self.nodes[0].getpeerinfo()), 3)
@@ -112,8 +111,7 @@ class MaxUploadTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         # We'll try 800 times
         getdata_request.inv = [CInv(2, big_new_block)]
         for i in range(800):
-            p2p_conns[1].send_message(getdata_request)
-            p2p_conns[1].sync_with_ping()
+            p2p_conns[1].send_and_ping(getdata_request)
             assert_equal(p2p_conns[1].block_receive_map[big_new_block], i+1)
 
         self.log.info("Peer 1 able to repeatedly download new block")
@@ -132,8 +130,7 @@ class MaxUploadTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         # and p2p_conns[2] should be able to retrieve the old block.
         self.nodes[0].setmocktime(int(time.time()))
         p2p_conns[2].sync_with_ping()
-        p2p_conns[2].send_message(getdata_request)
-        p2p_conns[2].sync_with_ping()
+        p2p_conns[2].send_and_ping(getdata_request)
         assert_equal(p2p_conns[2].block_receive_map[big_old_block], 1)
 
         self.log.info("Peer 2 able to download old block")
@@ -150,8 +147,7 @@ class MaxUploadTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         #retrieve 20 blocks which should be enough to break the 1MB limit
         getdata_request.inv = [CInv(2, big_new_block)]
         for i in range(20):
-            self.nodes[0].p2p.send_message(getdata_request)
-            self.nodes[0].p2p.sync_with_ping()
+            self.nodes[0].p2p.send_and_ping(getdata_request)
             assert_equal(self.nodes[0].p2p.block_receive_map[big_new_block], i+1)
 
         getdata_request.inv = [CInv(2, big_old_block)]
diff --git a/test/functional/p2p_filter.py b/test/functional/p2p_filter.py
index ad7a9dcf6e..2940542e5e 100755
--- a/test/functional/p2p_filter.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p_filter.py
@@ -64,8 +64,7 @@ class FilterTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
     def run_test(self):
         self.log.info('Add filtered P2P connection to the node')
         filter_node = self.nodes[0].add_p2p_connection(FilterNode())
-        filter_node.send_message(filter_node.watch_filter_init)
-        filter_node.sync_with_ping()
+        filter_node.send_and_ping(filter_node.watch_filter_init)
         filter_address = self.nodes[0].decodescript(filter_node.watch_script_pubkey)['addresses'][0]
 
         self.log.info('Check that we receive merkleblock and tx if the filter matches a tx in a block')
@@ -99,8 +98,7 @@ class FilterTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         assert not filter_node.merkleblock_received
 
         self.log.info('Check that after deleting filter all txs get relayed again')
-        filter_node.send_message(msg_filterclear())
-        filter_node.sync_with_ping()
+        filter_node.send_and_ping(msg_filterclear())
         for _ in range(5):
             txid = self.nodes[0].sendtoaddress(self.nodes[0].getnewaddress(), 7)
             filter_node.wait_for_tx(txid)
diff --git a/test/functional/p2p_leak_tx.py b/test/functional/p2p_leak_tx.py
index dc4d475b2d..c6fcc5e200 100755
--- a/test/functional/p2p_leak_tx.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p_leak_tx.py
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ class P2PLeakTxTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
             want_tx = msg_getdata()
             want_tx.inv.append(CInv(t=1, h=int(txid, 16)))
             inbound_peer.last_message.pop('notfound', None)
-            inbound_peer.send_message(want_tx)
-            inbound_peer.sync_with_ping()
+            inbound_peer.send_and_ping(want_tx)
 
             if inbound_peer.last_message.get('notfound'):
                 self.log.debug('tx {} was not yet announced to us.'.format(txid))
diff --git a/test/functional/p2p_segwit.py b/test/functional/p2p_segwit.py
index 785c476e19..118f31382a 100755
--- a/test/functional/p2p_segwit.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p_segwit.py
@@ -303,8 +303,7 @@ class SegWitTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
 
         block = self.build_next_block(version=1)
         block.solve()
-        self.test_node.send_message(msg_no_witness_block(block))
-        self.test_node.sync_with_ping()  # make sure the block was processed
+        self.test_node.send_and_ping(msg_no_witness_block(block))  # make sure the block was processed
         txid = block.vtx[0].sha256
 
         self.nodes[0].generate(99)  # let the block mature
@@ -319,8 +318,7 @@ class SegWitTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         # This is a sanity check of our testing framework.
         assert_equal(msg_no_witness_tx(tx).serialize(), msg_tx(tx).serialize())
 
-        self.test_node.send_message(msg_tx(tx))
-        self.test_node.sync_with_ping()  # make sure the tx was processed
+        self.test_node.send_and_ping(msg_tx(tx))  # make sure the block was processed
         assert tx.hash in self.nodes[0].getrawmempool()
         # Save this transaction for later
         self.utxo.append(UTXO(tx.sha256, 0, 49 * 100000000))
@@ -350,8 +348,7 @@ class SegWitTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
 
         # But it should not be permanently marked bad...
         # Resend without witness information.
-        self.test_node.send_message(msg_no_witness_block(block))
-        self.test_node.sync_with_ping()
+        self.test_node.send_and_ping(msg_no_witness_block(block))  # make sure the block was processed
         assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getbestblockhash(), block.hash)
 
         # Update our utxo list; we spent the first entry.
@@ -2054,16 +2051,14 @@ class SegWitTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         tx = FromHex(CTransaction(), raw)
         assert_raises_rpc_error(-22, "TX decode failed", self.nodes[0].decoderawtransaction, serialize_with_bogus_witness(tx).hex())
         with self.nodes[0].assert_debug_log(['Superfluous witness record']):
-            self.nodes[0].p2p.send_message(msg_bogus_tx(tx))
-            self.nodes[0].p2p.sync_with_ping()
+            self.nodes[0].p2p.send_and_ping(msg_bogus_tx(tx))
         raw = self.nodes[0].signrawtransactionwithwallet(raw)
         assert raw['complete']
         raw = raw['hex']
         tx = FromHex(CTransaction(), raw)
         assert_raises_rpc_error(-22, "TX decode failed", self.nodes[0].decoderawtransaction, serialize_with_bogus_witness(tx).hex())
         with self.nodes[0].assert_debug_log(['Unknown transaction optional data']):
-            self.nodes[0].p2p.send_message(msg_bogus_tx(tx))
-            self.nodes[0].p2p.sync_with_ping()
+            self.nodes[0].p2p.send_and_ping(msg_bogus_tx(tx))
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/test/functional/p2p_sendheaders.py b/test/functional/p2p_sendheaders.py
index 161b67e6d0..e543e647f2 100755
--- a/test/functional/p2p_sendheaders.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p_sendheaders.py
@@ -307,8 +307,7 @@ class SendHeadersTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
                 new_block.solve()
                 test_node.send_header_for_blocks([new_block])
                 test_node.wait_for_getdata([new_block.sha256])
-                test_node.send_message(msg_block(new_block))
-                test_node.sync_with_ping()  # make sure this block is processed
+                test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(new_block))  # make sure this block is processed
                 wait_until(lambda: inv_node.block_announced, timeout=60, lock=mininode_lock)
                 inv_node.clear_block_announcements()
                 test_node.clear_block_announcements()
diff --git a/test/functional/p2p_tx_download.py b/test/functional/p2p_tx_download.py
index aada04f66f..b56dc994e7 100755
--- a/test/functional/p2p_tx_download.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p_tx_download.py
@@ -65,8 +65,7 @@ class TxDownloadTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         self.log.info("Announce the txid from each incoming peer to node 0")
         msg = msg_inv([CInv(t=1, h=txid)])
         for p in self.nodes[0].p2ps:
-            p.send_message(msg)
-            p.sync_with_ping()
+            p.send_and_ping(msg)
 
         outstanding_peer_index = [i for i in range(len(self.nodes[0].p2ps))]
 
@@ -107,8 +106,7 @@ class TxDownloadTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
             "Announce the transaction to all nodes from all {} incoming peers, but never send it".format(NUM_INBOUND))
         msg = msg_inv([CInv(t=1, h=txid)])
         for p in self.peers:
-            p.send_message(msg)
-            p.sync_with_ping()
+            p.send_and_ping(msg)
 
         self.log.info("Put the tx in node 0's mempool")
         self.nodes[0].sendrawtransaction(tx)
diff --git a/test/functional/p2p_unrequested_blocks.py b/test/functional/p2p_unrequested_blocks.py
index 534d275c28..d18d4b069a 100755
--- a/test/functional/p2p_unrequested_blocks.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p_unrequested_blocks.py
@@ -97,11 +97,9 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
             blocks_h2.append(create_block(tips[i], create_coinbase(2), block_time))
             blocks_h2[i].solve()
             block_time += 1
-        test_node.send_message(msg_block(blocks_h2[0]))
-        min_work_node.send_message(msg_block(blocks_h2[1]))
+        test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(blocks_h2[0]))
+        min_work_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(blocks_h2[1]))
 
-        for x in [test_node, min_work_node]:
-            x.sync_with_ping()
         assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getblockcount(), 2)
         assert_equal(self.nodes[1].getblockcount(), 1)
         self.log.info("First height 2 block accepted by node0; correctly rejected by node1")
@@ -110,9 +108,8 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         block_h1f = create_block(int("0x" + self.nodes[0].getblockhash(0), 0), create_coinbase(1), block_time)
         block_time += 1
         block_h1f.solve()
-        test_node.send_message(msg_block(block_h1f))
+        test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(block_h1f))
 
-        test_node.sync_with_ping()
         tip_entry_found = False
         for x in self.nodes[0].getchaintips():
             if x['hash'] == block_h1f.hash:
@@ -125,9 +122,8 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         block_h2f = create_block(block_h1f.sha256, create_coinbase(2), block_time)
         block_time += 1
         block_h2f.solve()
-        test_node.send_message(msg_block(block_h2f))
+        test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(block_h2f))
 
-        test_node.sync_with_ping()
         # Since the earlier block was not processed by node, the new block
         # can't be fully validated.
         tip_entry_found = False
@@ -144,9 +140,8 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         # 4b. Now send another block that builds on the forking chain.
         block_h3 = create_block(block_h2f.sha256, create_coinbase(3), block_h2f.nTime+1)
         block_h3.solve()
-        test_node.send_message(msg_block(block_h3))
+        test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(block_h3))
 
-        test_node.sync_with_ping()
         # Since the earlier block was not processed by node, the new block
         # can't be fully validated.
         tip_entry_found = False
@@ -172,8 +167,7 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
             tip = next_block
 
         # Now send the block at height 5 and check that it wasn't accepted (missing header)
-        test_node.send_message(msg_block(all_blocks[1]))
-        test_node.sync_with_ping()
+        test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(all_blocks[1]))
         assert_raises_rpc_error(-5, "Block not found", self.nodes[0].getblock, all_blocks[1].hash)
         assert_raises_rpc_error(-5, "Block not found", self.nodes[0].getblockheader, all_blocks[1].hash)
 
@@ -181,8 +175,7 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         headers_message = msg_headers()
         headers_message.headers.append(CBlockHeader(all_blocks[0]))
         test_node.send_message(headers_message)
-        test_node.send_message(msg_block(all_blocks[1]))
-        test_node.sync_with_ping()
+        test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(all_blocks[1]))
         self.nodes[0].getblock(all_blocks[1].hash)
 
         # Now send the blocks in all_blocks
@@ -207,9 +200,7 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
 
         test_node = self.nodes[0].add_p2p_connection(P2PInterface())
 
-        test_node.send_message(msg_block(block_h1f))
-
-        test_node.sync_with_ping()
+        test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(block_h1f))
         assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getblockcount(), 2)
         self.log.info("Unrequested block that would complete more-work chain was ignored")
 
@@ -230,9 +221,7 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         self.log.info("Inv at tip triggered getdata for unprocessed block")
 
         # 7. Send the missing block for the third time (now it is requested)
-        test_node.send_message(msg_block(block_h1f))
-
-        test_node.sync_with_ping()
+        test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(block_h1f))
         assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getblockcount(), 290)
         self.nodes[0].getblock(all_blocks[286].hash)
         assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getbestblockhash(), all_blocks[286].hash)
@@ -259,9 +248,8 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         headers_message.headers.append(CBlockHeader(block_290f))
         headers_message.headers.append(CBlockHeader(block_291))
         headers_message.headers.append(CBlockHeader(block_292))
-        test_node.send_message(headers_message)
+        test_node.send_and_ping(headers_message)
 
-        test_node.sync_with_ping()
         tip_entry_found = False
         for x in self.nodes[0].getchaintips():
             if x['hash'] == block_292.hash:
@@ -271,9 +259,8 @@ class AcceptBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         assert_raises_rpc_error(-1, "Block not found on disk", self.nodes[0].getblock, block_292.hash)
 
         test_node.send_message(msg_block(block_289f))
-        test_node.send_message(msg_block(block_290f))
+        test_node.send_and_ping(msg_block(block_290f))
 
-        test_node.sync_with_ping()
         self.nodes[0].getblock(block_289f.hash)
         self.nodes[0].getblock(block_290f.hash)
 
diff --git a/test/functional/rpc_blockchain.py b/test/functional/rpc_blockchain.py
index adf6f1ca4f..a6eaaa4539 100755
--- a/test/functional/rpc_blockchain.py
+++ b/test/functional/rpc_blockchain.py
@@ -315,8 +315,7 @@ class BlockchainTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         def solve_and_send_block(prevhash, height, time):
             b = create_block(prevhash, create_coinbase(height), time)
             b.solve()
-            node.p2p.send_message(msg_block(b))
-            node.p2p.sync_with_ping()
+            node.p2p.send_and_ping(msg_block(b))
             return b
 
         b21f = solve_and_send_block(int(b20hash, 16), 21, b20['time'] + 1)
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_multiwallet.py b/test/functional/wallet_multiwallet.py
index 78ead514a5..a2c502f280 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_multiwallet.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_multiwallet.py
@@ -236,10 +236,10 @@ class MultiWalletTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         assert_raises_rpc_error(-4, "Wallet file verification failed: Error loading wallet wallet.dat. Duplicate -wallet filename specified.", self.nodes[0].loadwallet, 'wallet.dat')
 
         # Fail to load if one wallet is a copy of another
-        assert_raises_rpc_error(-1, "BerkeleyBatch: Can't open database w8_copy (duplicates fileid", self.nodes[0].loadwallet, 'w8_copy')
+        assert_raises_rpc_error(-4, "BerkeleyBatch: Can't open database w8_copy (duplicates fileid", self.nodes[0].loadwallet, 'w8_copy')
 
         # Fail to load if one wallet is a copy of another, test this twice to make sure that we don't re-introduce #14304
-        assert_raises_rpc_error(-1, "BerkeleyBatch: Can't open database w8_copy (duplicates fileid", self.nodes[0].loadwallet, 'w8_copy')
+        assert_raises_rpc_error(-4, "BerkeleyBatch: Can't open database w8_copy (duplicates fileid", self.nodes[0].loadwallet, 'w8_copy')
 
 
         # Fail to load if wallet file is a symlink